And now, for something quite different from the usual aircraft two-views I've been making...

Here's the iconic Vic Viper starfighter of the Gradius video game series, in its T-301 iteration. First seen on the cover of the Gradius III & IV compilation as well as CG sequences within it, the T-301 then makes its first full-blown appearance in Gradius V, and then in Gradius ReBirth.

The T-301 is easily distinguished from its BP-827Z predecessor (last seen in Gradius IV) by the sharp, angular design of its prow (which elaborately reconfigures when firing its high-powered laser), as well as the two oversized "photon torpedo" missiles it carries externally.

And yes, this one took much longer than the others, considering that the reference I had to glean from were oblique CG renders (and my own gashapon model).

Oh yeah, Yu-Gi-Oh also has cards of so many other Gradius stuff, such as the Bacterian Core Ships, the Moai statues, and even an advanced version of the Vic Viper/Gradius known as the Victory Viper XX03.

In the hands of very capable pilots, it's a formidable adversary, since it carries high-powered energy weapons, various types of ordnance (spread bombs, photon missiles, etc.), not to mention an onboard forcefield generator as well as four "Multiple" drones for 4x added firepower.As if the Gradius games and Leo Stenbuck from Z.O.E. The 2nd Runner are an indication of that already... >;D

Ah yes, there was also a 3-episode OVA series back in 1987 that featured the storylines of the first three Gradius games (Gradius, Salamander/Life Force, Gradius II) in stylized anime form: [link]